Random Draws
Droplets on a Stem
Water droplets on the lemon tree outside the front door. For full size, right click and choose "Open image in new tab".
A Misplaced Sense of Pride
One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, polymath, inventor, scientist, writer, diplomat, etc., etc., Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) observed that “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” An analogous statement about nations could be that all nations are born poor but it requires hard work to … Continue reading A Misplaced Sense of Pride
Charity should be voluntary, not coerced
All actions of a just society should be principles-based. One of the primary guiding principles of a just society is that coercion is kept at a minimum. That is, people should be free of coercion from others, including the government. Certainly, a case can be made for why there will have to be some coercion … Continue reading Charity should be voluntary, not coerced
Off to India
I am off to India tomorrow morning. I hope to write after I arrive in Mumbai Wednesday 9th early morning. Keep in touch. Cheers, Atanu
Charlie Munger on Costco
I am a fierce Costco loyalist. I have been a card-carrying member of Costco for over 20 years, and have bought tens of thousands bucks worth of stuff from the store. It is somewhat comical this habit of mine: to my friends and acquaintances, I keep insisting that they get a Costco membership and buy … Continue reading Charlie Munger on Costco
Fermi’s Martians
Enrico Fermi (1901 - 1954), the Italian-American physicist, Nobel laureate, etc etc, asked the famous question "Where are they?" That question became known as the Fermi paradox. The universe should be teeming with life. But the striking lack of any evidence of extraterrestrials is puzzling. Where are they? Leo Szilard (1898 - 1964), was a … Continue reading Fermi’s Martians
